"I Endured Every Woman's Worst Nightmare: A Masseur's Disturbing Assault and His Chilling Final Words"

LYING back on the massage bed, Danniel Worthen hoped to ease the stress and grief of the past few months with a relaxing beauty treatment.

Instead, the 49-year-old mum-of-four was subjected to a horrifying sexual assault, which lasted an agonising 30 minutes, at the hands of the man she should have been able to trust: her massage therapist.

Danniel Worthern was sexually assaulted by her massage therapist, during a treatment she had booked to escape the pain of her brother’s suicideCredit: Danniel Worthern Geoff, left, pictured with Danniel’s other brother Jacob, centre, died at the age of 39 – almost exactly a year before the attackCredit: Danniel Worthern

Danniel, a trauma therapist from Utah, had booked in for a massage in June 2020 to help cope with the first anniversary of her brother Geoff’s death. He had tragically died by suicide aged 39.

“I was a busy mum – I’d just completed my studies as a mental health therapist alongside working as a social worker,” Danniel explained.

“My soul was still shattered from losing Geoff. He was such an incredible person and I was heartbroken that he was gone.”

So as her then-husband, Ethan, and kids went to work, school and college, Danniel spent the day focusing on herself.

The fact that I was preyed on during one of the lowest moments of my life is utterly sickening

Danniel Worthen

She said: “I knew I had to force myself to do something nice. I needed to take this hard moment of grief and turn it into a celebration of my brother’s life.

“The fact that I was preyed on during one of the lowest moments of my life is utterly sickening.”

After enjoying a pedicure and taking a nap, she decided to book in for a reflexology session at the Foot Relax Centre in Utah.

Danniel said: “I’d been there a few times in the past, so I phoned up for a last-minute appointment, which they had.”

COVID meant that businesses were only just opening up again and there were still restrictions in place.

So when Danniel arrived, it was just her and the therapist, with no receptionist or anyone else in the building, which was unusual.

“I’d planned to have my usual reflexology treatment, but when he offered me a discount on a full-body massage, I thought, why not?

“I’d seen this particular therapist three times before and he’d always made me feel safe and comfortable.”

Danniel’ s husband Gvnage has supported her while recovering from the traumaCredit: Danniel Worthern Sick Hong Guang Lin was found guilty of rape and two counts of forcible sexual abuseCredit: Salt Lake City Police

Danniel was taken through to a small treatment room.

She explained: “It was quite a tight fit, there was barely room for the massage bed. I thought it was a bit fishy, but I wasn’t in the right head space to give it too much thought.”

Danniel was told to strip off her clothes, except from her knickers, and lay down on the bed.

“Everything at this point was legit. He left the room while I got undressed and knocked on the door to check I was decent before coming in again – I felt safe,” she said.

Lying on her front, Danniel had a sheet draped around the lower half of her body, so only her back was exposed.

She said: “He started massaging my legs and then moved onto my back. It was working – I finally felt the most relaxed I’d been in a long time.

“I’d been his customer before and he always complimented me on my skin. So when he said ‘You have nice skin,’ I didn’t see it as strange.

“After 30 minutes, he got me to flip over onto my back. Weirdly, he didn’t offer me another towel to cover myself when I turned over, so my breasts were on show.

“I’d never had this type of massage before, so I wondered if it was just a different approach. But then I noticed him staring at my boobs and felt incredibly uncomfortable.”

Danniel froze during the attack, with her only thoughts how to escape aliveCredit: Danniel Worthern

What happened next is every woman’s worst nightmare.

Feeling too awkward to say anything, Danniel tried to relax again as the therapist started massaging her stomach, but then his hands moved to her breasts.

She said: “I thought I’d misunderstood something and questioned myself. But then, in broken English, he asked, ‘Do you want me to f*** you?’

“Terrified, I said ‘no’ multiple times while pointing at the sign that said ‘No sexual conduct.’

“As he moved down and started massaging my feet, he slipped his hand under the sheet, into my knickers and assaulted me.”

Bolting up, Danniel pushed him away, shakily saying “no” and pointing to the sign again.

The therapist left the room for a minute to wash his hands, but Danniel felt too scared to put on her clothes or move from where she was laying. Minutes later, he was back and sexually assaulted Danniel once again.

She said: “I froze, too scared to do anything. My mind had checked out of my body and I blocked out what was happening. Staring at the clock on the wall, I counted the minutes as they went by, telling myself, I have to get out here alive.

“After what felt like eternity, he stopped and walked around to the top half of my body, before bending over and sucking on my right breast and then my leaving. Horrified, I prayed someone would walk into the salon.”

Danniel is mum to Elena, 27, Allysa, 23, Brianna, 21 and Richard, 19Credit: Danniel Worthern Geoff’s untimely loss rocked the mum-of-fourCredit: Collects

Danniel felt utter relief when she heard a bell ringing, which signified someone coming into the front door.

And when a man’s voice said, “Hello?” the therapist stopped what he was doing and told Danniel to get dressed.

She explained: “I was hyperventilating as he left the room. Shaking, I quickly got dressed and walked out of the room.

“Paying him $50 at reception, he had the cheek to ask me for a tip. Outraged, I took a $5 note from my purse and threw it at him before leaving.”

Back at home, Danniel tried to pretend she was fine, particularly in front of her four kids, Elena, then 21, Allysa, 17, Brianna, 15 and Richard, 13.

But early in bed the next morning, Danniel broke down in tears, revealing the assault to Ethan.

He had the cheek to ask me for a tip. Outraged, I took a $5 note from my purse and threw it at him before leaving

Danniel Worthen

“He called the police and a cop came over. I told them everything, detailing the 30 minutes of abuse that he’d inflicted on me,” Danniel said.

One woman came forward with a similar experience to Danniel – and another said that she was raped by him.

In August, the man responsible, Hong Guang Ling, 63, was charged for all three cases.

Danniel said: “He wasn’t granted bail, which was a relief, I felt safe knowing he was behind bars.

“Eventually I told my kids what had happened to me – they were all shocked and supported me as I navigated the trauma and legal proceedings.

“I had to go to court and give evidence. Seeing that man in the same room as me was so tough, I thought about the mental and physical pain that he’d put me through.”

I want other survivors to know our lives are not defined by these events, but who we become afterwards

Danniel Worthen

In June 2021, Hong Guang Lin, was found guilty of rape and two counts of forcible sexual abuse. He was sentenced to life behind bars.

Danniel said: “It felt like closure and that justice had been served. Nowadays, I work as a therapist, often helping other people cope with their trauma.

“But I still feel angry about my own trauma. I was in a vulnerable position that day and put my trust into a man, thinking I was safe. The fact that he took this opportunity to subject me to such a heinous experience is disgusting.

“Despite this pain, it’s taught me how strong I am, as well as the joy that life can bring.

“Ethan and I broke up at the beginning of 2022 but we remain friends. Since the split, I’ve got married again to a lovely man called Gvnage.

“I want other survivors to know our lives are not defined by these events, but who we become afterwards.”

You can find out more about Danniel’s therapist work at Willow Meleda Wellness .

Danniel now works as a therapist, helping people work through their traumaCredit: Melodey Colcord